About 180 schools in Worcestershire have asbestos

ALMOST 200 schools in Worcestershire contain asbestos, according to official figures.

This has led to claims of safety concerns from some quarters.

But Worcestershire County Council has reassured the public that all asbestos in the 180 affected schools is managed in line with an approved code of practice and that any potentially hazardous material is removed as part of an ongoing programme.

Councillor Liz Eyre, cabinet member for children and families at Worcestershire County Council, said: “There are around 180 schools supported by the county council which are currently recorded as having asbestos containing materials.

“All buildings have been surveyed and we manage the asbestos in schools in accordance with the approved code of practice to ensure that we comply with the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.

“Anything considered to be potentially hazardous is being removed under an ongoing programme.”

SINGAPORE: The Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Council and the Ministry of Manpower have announced enhanced regulations for work involving asbestos, a substance that could potentially cause lung cancer.

Many older buildings, especially those built before 1990, may have asbestos-containing materials. These include corrugated roofs, ceiling boards and partition walls.

The new WSH (Asbestos) Regulations will replace the existing Factories (Asbestos) Regulations and take effect from May 1.

The new regulations come after three rounds of public consultations conducted last year.

Under the new regulations, an expert must be appointed to ascertain if asbestos-containing materials are present before starting demolition or renovation works on buildings built before 1 January 1991.

If asbestos is present, it must be removed before demolition can commence. The removal can only be carried out by an approved asbestos removal contractor, under proper supervision.

“This will ensure that workers carry out these work activities under proper management and protection. It will also prevent the release of asbestos fibres into the air which can affect the public,” said Senior Minister of State for Health and Manpower Dr Amy Khor.

To help the industry comply with the regulations, a new set of WSH guidelines on the management and removal of asbestos has been developed to guide contractors and building owners on the proper management of asbestos-containing materials.

In addition, a video has been produced with the aim of educating stakeholders on the health effects of asbestos exposure. The video will illustrate examples of where asbestos can be found and measures to apply in the management and removal process.

An asbestos expert has warned that disease from the deadly substance is not a thing of the past.

He says bad worksite practices and ignorance are putting everyone at risk.

Yesterday 40 workers evacuated a city worksite when a union official discovered they’d been working amongst asbestos dust for weeks. Across town, asbestos contaminated soil was found during landscaping at Glenside hospital.

The union fears if it’s being found on worksites where people are trained to recognise it, the problem is likely to be far more widespread.

“We don’t know how much asbestos would be going out on to domestic sites where perhaps that training’s not being done, used on driveways, used as underfill for concrete slabs,” John Carter says.

“Unfortunately people trust their tradesman, and the tradesman honestly think they’re doing it right, I’ve been doing this for years, this hasn’t hurt me, this is not a problem, don’t worry about it.”

But Carter says asbestos is continuing to claim new victims.

“The numbers are on the increase, that’s changing slightly as to who’s getting it, and now its mothers and children.”

He says dust on clothes from small jobs can put everyone at risk.

Safework SA says the regulations are rigorous, but they need to be followed.